Health Insights Today
January/February 2012, Volume 5, Number 1
Mind-Body News
(pdf) When reading reports on new research, it is important to remember that no single study should be seen as providing the whole truth. The following reports offer helpful clues but in most cases further research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Tai Chi Decreases IL-6, Key Marker of Inflammation
Irwin MR, Olmstead R. Mitigating Cellular Inflammation in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Tai Chi Chih. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. Sep 19 2011.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of a behavioral intervention, Tai Chi Chih (TCC) on circulating markers of inflammation in older adults. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial with allocation to two arms, TCC and health education (HE), 16 weeks of intervention administration, and 9 weeks follow-up. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 83 healthy older adults, aged 59 to 86 years. MEASUREMENTS: The primary endpoint was circulating levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6). Secondary outcomes were circulating levels of C-reactive protein, soluble IL-1 receptor antagonist, soluble IL-6 receptor, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule, and IL-18. Severity of depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and physical activity was also assessed over the treatment trial. RESULTS: Among those older adults with high levels of IL-6 at entry, a trend for a treatment group by time interaction was found (F[1,70] = 3.48, p = 0.07), in which TCC produced a drop of IL-6 levels comparable to those found in TCC and HE subgroups who had low levels of IL-6 at entry (t72's = 0.80, 1.63, p's >0.10), whereas IL-6 in HE remained higher than the TCC and HE subgroups with low entry IL-6 (t72 = 2.47, p = 0.02; t72 = 1.71, p = 0.09). Decreases in depressive symptoms in the two treatment groups correlated with decreases of IL-6 (r = 0.28, p <0.05). None of the other cellular markers of inflammation changed in TCC versus HE. CONCLUSION: TCC can be considered a useful behavioral intervention to reduce circulating levels of IL-6 in older adults who show elevated levels of this inflammatory marker and are at risk for inflammation-related morbidity.
Yoga Helps Postural Control, Mobility, and Gait Speed
Zettergren KK, Lubeski JM, Viverito JM. Effects of a yoga program on postural control, mobility, and gait speed in community-living older adults: a pilot study. J Geriatr Phys Ther. Apr-Jun 2011;34(2):88-94.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of an 8-week therapeutic yoga program on postural control, mobility, rising from the floor, and gait speed in community-living older adults. DESIGN: Pretest/posttest design with an experimental group and an age-matched control group. Changes over time (pretest to posttest) were evaluated in all outcome measures using paired t tests. SETTING: The yoga class was performed at a local continuing care retirement community. All testing was performed at the site. Control-subject pretests and posttests were performed at a second continuing care retirement community. PARTICIPANTS: Eight research participants, all women, with a mean age of 84 (4.6) years, 8 control participants, 5 women and 3 men, aged 81.3 (4.9) years. Research participants were naive to yoga. INTERVENTIONS: An 8-week, 80-minute, biweekly Kripalu yoga class designed specifically for community-dwelling older adults. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postural control (Berg Balance Scale), mobility (time to rise from the floor to standing, Timed Up and Go), gait (usual and fast gait speed), and balance confidence (Activities-Specific Balance Scale). RESULTS: All subjects attended at least 10 of the 16 classes (62% attendance). Posttest differences were found for yoga participants in balance scores (P < .003) and fast walking speed (P < .031). No other significant changes were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in postural control as measured by the Berg Balance Scale and gait as measured by fast gait speed indicate that research subjects benefited from the yoga intervention. The yoga program designed for this study included the activities of standing, sitting, and lying on the floor. Therefore, subjects perform activities during yoga that can improve postural control, mobility, and gait speed.
Qi-gong Helps Control Diabetes via Weight Loss
Liu X, Miller YD, Burton NW, Chang JH, Brown WJ. Qi-gong mind-body therapy and diabetes control: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med. Aug 2011;41(2):152-158.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that qi-gong, a form of mind-body movement therapy, may be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes; however, no controlled studies have been conducted to examine the predictors and mediators of qi-gong effects on indicators of diabetes control. This study examined the effects of qi-gong on diabetes control and identified the predictors and mediators of these effects. DESIGN: RCT. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: The study included forty-one participants (16 men and 25 women; aged 41-71 years) with elevated blood glucose levels. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to qi-gong intervention or a usual medical care control group. Physical and hematologic measures were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcomes were indicators of diabetes control (HbA1c, insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose and insulin, and 2-hour blood glucose and insulin) and potential mediators of these (body weight, waist circumference, and leg strength). Data were collected in 2006 and analyzed in 2007 to 2009. RESULTS: Linear regression analyses showed significant between-group differences in favor of the intervention group in weight (p<0.01); waist circumference (p<0.01); leg strength (p<0.01); HbA1c (p<0.05); insulin resistance (p<0.01); and fasting blood insulin (p<0.01) at 12 weeks. Logistic regression analyses showed that the qi-gong intervention was a significant predictor of reduced weight (odds for decreasing by -2 kg=11.14, p<0.01); waist circumference (by -5 cm=22.50, p<0.01); insulin resistance (by -0.2 unit=3.75, p<0.05); and improved leg strength (odds for increasing by 4 stands in 30 seconds=7.00, p<0.01). The effect of the qi-gong intervention on improved insulin resistance was mediated by reduced weight. CONCLUSIONS: The qi-gong intervention was associated with improvements in weight, waist circumference, leg strength, and insulin resistance. The mediation analyses highlight the importance of weight reduction in the control of diabetes.